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Word of Mouth, Quarantine Edition

Prior to the advent of Covid-19, I was about 70% through the first draft of a novel about a virus, an anger virus. Looking back on what I wrote, I am stunned by how mild and self-contained the virus I created was. I am currently too busy panic cleaning, home schooling and hand washing to do much about the novel, but in the process of doing research into epidemiology and vaccines, I came across several books that helped me understand how viruses work, and thought now would be an excellent time to recommend them.

If you have it in you to learn more about how microscopic pathogens can upend the globe, here are four fascinating books that helped me understand. If you’ve had enough pathogens, skip ahead to the ESCAPE section. And wash your hands!

DON'T MAKE A SCENE

"A funny, smart and beautifully written homage to movies, New York, love and all the other things that make life tolerable."-- Gary Shteyngart, author of The Russian Debutante's Handbook and Absurdistan

Valerie Block uses tart humor in this fiercely intelligent look at how the movies shape and haunt us, and what happens when the eternal allure of classic movies collides with the daily indignities of contemporary life. DON'T MAKE A SCENE is a refreshing comedy about finding fascination, irritation and joy in unexpected places.

NONE OF YOUR BUSINESS

“Not only is NONE OF YOUR BUSINESS a terrific mystery story; it'll also be the funniest book you've read all year.”-- David Montgomery, Chicago Sun Times

From the living rooms of Park Avenue to the Pastrami King on Queens Boulevard, Valerie Block turns a sharp eye on New York in this sophisticated cocktail of bad manners and criminal behavior. NONE OF YOUR BUSINESS has something for everyone: high-tech embezzlement, petty office politics, emotionally demanding strangers, overworked cops, identity theft and bad attitude.